Improvement in priming metallic cartridges



PAT ENTEE JAN 2 1868 WWW Mam 1 m UivrrEE STATES EAEEEE QFEIGE.

HENRY MEIGS, JEfoE BERGEN POINT, NEw JEesEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRIMING- METALLIC CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 73,739, dated January 28, 1868.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY MEIGS, Jr., of Bergen Point, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Central-Fire Metallic Cartridges, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional perspective view of my improved cartridge. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing the disk-anvil before being expanded. Fig. 3 is a side view of the unexpanded disk-anvil, and Fig. 4 a vertical section through the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the expanded disk-anvil Fig. 6, a side view, and Fig. 7 a section through the same.

It is the object of my invention to provide an effective anvil to contain the fulminate and insure its discharge; and to this end my improvement consists in combining, with a metallic shell, an anvil composed of a radiallyslotted perforated iron disk having a fulmihate-chamber on its under side, which disk has its edges thinned down and compressed to permit it to drop into the shell, and is then expanded by pressure, so as to fit closely in the flange of the shell to hold the anvil firmly, as hereinafter described.

To carry out my invention I take, as shown in the accompanying drawings, a shell, A, of brass, copper, or other suitable metal, and having a rim or flange, a, of the usual form.

I form the anvil of an iron disk, which is perforated centrally, chamfered on its circumference, and has radial slots 1) cut in it, so that the periphery of the disk is cut into sec tions. The disk is also provided on its under side with a chamber or recess to contain the fulminate c. As the disks are stamped out the full size of the flange of the shell, some means must be devised of getting them into the base of the cartridge.

This I accomplish by crimping the edges of the disk, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, until its diameter is sufficiently reduced to permit it to pass through the body A of the shell; The fulminate having first been inserted in its chamber on the under side of the disk, the

latter is inserted, with its concave side downward into the shell until it rests on its base. A punch is then inserted and the disk expanded by compression until it fits snugly in the flange a of the shell, and is firmly held by it. The concavity of the fulminate-cham- 'ber prevents accidental explosion while loading, and by forming a circular groove in the under side of the disk, as at d, Fig. 7, the shell may be pressed closely into it without danger.- As a protection against corrosion, I propose to galvanize or tin thedisks when necessary.

As my disks are formed of iron, to give them firmness to resist the blow of the firingpin, the radial slots and chamfered edges are essential to their introduction into the flange of the shell by expansion, as, were the disks not slotted, the pressure required to expand them would cause the edges of the disk to cut through the base of the shell, and thus destroy the cartridge.

The fulminate can only be ignited by a blow on the center of'the base of the shell from an instrument with a sharp point, and no fire can escape except through the central aperture through the disk. It will also be perceived that as thedisk fits the flange (which, of course, fits the chamber of the gun) the anvil is firmly supported by the body of the gun against the blow of the firing-pin, while the base of the shell is also strengthened against the recoil of the charge.

To avoid accidents in inserting my improved anvil, I propose to use a tubular punch having a lateral channel to allow the force of a premature explosion, should one occur, to expend itself sidewise, instead of blowing the-punch outof the shell, as might be the case were a solid punch used 1 am aware that diskanvils of soft metal have heretofore been used. I am also aware that radially-slotted disks have also been used for a difierent purpose, and of a diifereut construction from mine. I do not, therefore, broadly claim either of these features separately; neither do I claim, broadly, expanding a disk to flt the flange; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

and arranged as described, for joint operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HENRY MEIGS, JR. Witnesses:

EDWIN F. COREY, Jr.,

central ROBERT H. FERGUSON. 

